Animals in Space

By ReallyBurntToast

  • Albert I

    Albert I
    On June 11th, 1948, one of N.A.S.A's first inventions, named a V-2 Blossom, was launched into space in White Sands, Mexico. The V-2 Blossom was carrying a rhesus monkey named Albert I. Because of the lack of documentary and fanfare, little else is known about Albert I, and he is an unsung hero. Sources: http://history.nasa.gov/animals.html

  • Unanaesthetized Mouse

    Unanaesthetized Mouse
    On August 31st, 1948, a second V-2 Blossom was launched into space. The V-2 Blossom was carrying an Unanaesthetized Mouse. The mouse was photographed in flight and survived the impact of the flight, however little else is known about the mouse. Sources: http://www.spacetoday.org/Astronauts/Animals/Mice.html

  • Albert II

    Albert II
    On June 14th, 1949, a third V-2 Blossom was launched into space. The V-2 Blossom was carrying a live Air Force Aeromedical Laboratory monkey named Albert II. The V-2 Blossom that was carrying Albert II attained an altitude of 83 miles. Unfortunately, however, Albert II died on impact. Sources: http://history.nasa.gov/animals.html

  • Dezik and Tsygan

    Dezik and Tsygan
    On August 15th, 1951, Dezik and Tsygan were launched. These two dogs were the first canine suborbital astronauts. They were successfully retrieved from the ship. On September 1st, 1951, Dezik and Lisa were launched. This second early Russian dog flight was unsuccessful. The dogs died, however a data recorder survived. Sources: www.spacetoday.org/Astronauts/Animals/Dogs.html

  • Patrica and Mike

    Patrica and Mike
    On May 22nd, 1952, two Phillipine monkeys named Patrica and Mike were enclosed in the nose section of an invention of N.A.S.A's, named the Aerobee, at Holloman Air Force Base. Patrica was placed in a seated position and Mike was placed in a prone position, to determine the different effects of rapid acceleration. The nose section of the Aerobee was recovered safely from the upper atmosphere by a parachute. Both monkeys survived. Sources: www.spacetoday.org/Astronauts/Animals/Monkeys.html

  • Laika

    Laika
    On November 3rd, 1957, an invention of N.A.S.A's named Sputnik 2 was launched into space. Sputnik 2 was carrying a small, stray mongrel named Laika, which is Russian for husky. Laika was picked up off of the street, hastily trained to board Sputnik 2, and put aboard in a metal carrier under the sphere of Sputnik 2. Laika died a few hours after Sputnik 2 was launched into space, and Sputnik 2 eventually burnt up in the atmosphere on April 1st, 1958. Sources: http://history.nasa.gov/animal

  • Gordo

    Gordo
    On December 13th, 1958, one year after Laika was launched into space, another one of N.A.S.A's inventions, named a Jupiter Rocket, was launched into space. The Jupiter Rocket was carrying a squirrel monkey named Gordo. Gordo was catapulted 600 miles high in the Jupiter Rocket, however he died when he landed in the Atlantic Ocean and floatation mechanism failed. Gordo's capsule was never found. Sources: history.nasa.gov/animals.html